Early educators have a vital role in the lives of children. What teachers/caregivers do can directly impact each child’s health and wellbeing. Teachers need the knowledge, skills and tools to meet this awesome responsibility! ECELS recently revised three self-learning modules so they are now updated and easy-to-use in online or print formats:

Each module meets STAR Level 2 Performance Standards for Health and Safety and provides 2 hours of professional development credit. See the brief overview of each module below, click on the active link above or go to the ECELS website at www.ecels-healthychildcarepa.org Select the Professional Development/Training tab at the top of the page, then Self-Learning Modules. Find the one you want to use in the alphabetical listing of the more than 30 Self-Learning Modules that ECELS offers.

ECELS is collecting transition ideas. How do you get all the children's hands washed, and keep their hands clean until they sit together to eat? Without a sink for every child to wash at the same time, what activities do you use for children who wash first to wait for those who wash last? Send your favorite ideas to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or fax them to 484-446-3255. We hope to collect good ideas to share in an upcoming issue of Health Link Online or as a Health Capsule.

The approaches you use are likely to differ for toddlers, preschoolers and school age children. You may have a routine transition or a collection of different approaches you use.

See Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools, 3rd Edition available at https://shop.aap.org/ or search www.healthychildren.org for more information. In PA, please send your health and safety request with your name and phone number to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Common myths and scientific evidence about currently recommended vaccines are discussed on the website of the Vaccine Education Center of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The Vaccine Education Center is funded by civic-minded donors, not pharmaceutical companies. View the facts about vaccines. Download information sheets for staff and parents, including one about common vaccine myths. Reviewed and reaffirmed 4/2018.

Common myths about vaccines are discussed on the website of the Vaccine Education Center of the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. The Vaccine Education Center is funded by civic-minded donors, not pharmaceutical companies. To view this and the many other excellent resources on the website of the Vaccine Education Center, click here or put the url in your browser http://www.chop.edu/service/vaccine-education-center. 2/2019

Early care and education staff members must check children's immunization records to be sure that the children are up-to-date and protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. This task requires looking at the record and understanding the abbreviations for the required vaccines. Vaccine products for children may contain single vaccines (protection against a single disease, e.g. Hepatitis b) or multiple vaccines (protection against multiple diseases, e.g. MMR for measles, mumps, rubella). These multiple vaccines are often called "combo or combination vaccines". Different vaccine manufacturers may produce either single or combo vaccines. Click here for the CDC website or put http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/vaccines-list.htm in your browser to view the names and components as well as learn more about vaccines in current use. Reviewed and reaffirmed 2/2019

Learn about vaccines and how they work, the science behind vaccines, immunity, and the diseases that vaccines prevent. Parents of children who suffered vaccine-preventable diseases tell their stories. Vaccine myths are debunked. You may watch the videos on line. Go to the website of the Vaccine Education Center of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at www.vaccine.chop.edu. Select the video you want to watch. Reviewed and reaffirmed 12/2012

“Vaccines and Your Baby” is a 28-minute video that explains the basics of vaccines. You’ll learn about vaccines and how they work, the science behind vaccines, immunity, and the 11 diseases that vaccines prevent. Parents of children who suffered vaccine-preventable diseases tell their stories. You may watch the video on line. Go to www.vaccine.chop.edu. To watch the video, just click on any section you wish to view. To watch the video from beginning to end, click on the first section and follow the prompts to each section that follows. If you prefer, you can download the entire video to your computer link on the webpage of the Vaccine Information Center.

The information and resources provided through this Web site are for educational purposes only. ECELS-Healthy Child Care Pennsylvania is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. If you have health-related questions you should consult a health care professional.